This will be my last post in this thread. I'd like to share an excerpt from Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle:
"Perhaps, when we remember wars, we should take off our clothes and paint ourselves blue and go on all fours all day long and grunt like pigs. That would surely be more appropriate that noble oratory and shows of flags and well-oiled guns."
We had to strain our ears to hear what Minton said next.
"But if today is really in honour of a hundred children murdered in war," he said, "is today a day for a thrilling show?
"The answer is yes, on one condition: that we, the celebrants are working consciously and tirelessly to reduce the stupidity and viciousness of ourselves and all mankind."
He unsnapped the catches on his wreath case.
"See what I have brought?" he asked us.
He opened the case and showed us the scarlet lining and he golden wreath. The wreath was made of wire and artificial laurel leaves, and the whole was sprayed with radiator paint.
The wreath was spanned by a cream-coloured silk ribbon on which was printed, 'PRO PATRIA'.
Minton now recited a poem from Edgar Lee Masters' Spoon River Anthology, a poem that must have been incomprehensible to the San Lorenzans in the audience – and to H. Lowe Crosby and his Hazel, too, for that matter, and to Angela and Frank.
I was the first fruits of the battle of Missionary Ridge.
When I felt the bullet enter my heart
I wished I had staid at home and gone to jail
For stealing the hogs of Curl Trenary,
Instead of running away and joining the army.
Rather a thousand times the county jail
Than to lie under this marble fingers with wings
And this granite pedestal
Bearing the words, 'Pro Patria'.
What do they mean, anyway?
"What do they mean, anyway?" echoed Ambassador Horlick Minton. "They mean, 'For one's country'." And he threw away another line. "Any country at all" he murmured.
"This wreath I bring is a gift from the people of one country to the people of another. Never mind which countries. Think of people . . .
"And children murdered in war . . .
"And any country at all.
"Think of peace.
"Think of brotherly love.
"Think of plenty.
"Think of what a paradise this world would be if men were kind and wise."
Posts
I saw that
that story changed the way I looked at life so much
the moral of the story is so fucking true and so fucking good
"be careful what you pretend to be, for in the end, it is you."
Yeah, sorry some old jerkoff died, looks like you'll have to find someone else's cock to suck.
And fuck you, anyone who hasn't read any Vonnegut probably just doesn't read.
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when George Carlin dies
I'll go to school and yell the seven dirty words at the top of my lungs for a week
I wish I could be like him
i don't know what you are talking about
yes yes
Such a spectacular short story
I still think Hemingway is a better short story author, though.
"Perhaps, when we remember wars, we should take off our clothes and paint ourselves blue and go on all fours all day long and grunt like pigs. That would surely be more appropriate that noble oratory and shows of flags and well-oiled guns."
We had to strain our ears to hear what Minton said next.
"But if today is really in honour of a hundred children murdered in war," he said, "is today a day for a thrilling show?
"The answer is yes, on one condition: that we, the celebrants are working consciously and tirelessly to reduce the stupidity and viciousness of ourselves and all mankind."
He unsnapped the catches on his wreath case.
"See what I have brought?" he asked us.
He opened the case and showed us the scarlet lining and he golden wreath. The wreath was made of wire and artificial laurel leaves, and the whole was sprayed with radiator paint.
The wreath was spanned by a cream-coloured silk ribbon on which was printed, 'PRO PATRIA'.
Minton now recited a poem from Edgar Lee Masters' Spoon River Anthology, a poem that must have been incomprehensible to the San Lorenzans in the audience – and to H. Lowe Crosby and his Hazel, too, for that matter, and to Angela and Frank.
I was the first fruits of the battle of Missionary Ridge.
When I felt the bullet enter my heart
I wished I had staid at home and gone to jail
For stealing the hogs of Curl Trenary,
Instead of running away and joining the army.
Rather a thousand times the county jail
Than to lie under this marble fingers with wings
And this granite pedestal
Bearing the words, 'Pro Patria'.
What do they mean, anyway?
"What do they mean, anyway?" echoed Ambassador Horlick Minton. "They mean, 'For one's country'." And he threw away another line. "Any country at all" he murmured.
"This wreath I bring is a gift from the people of one country to the people of another. Never mind which countries. Think of people . . .
"And children murdered in war . . .
"And any country at all.
"Think of peace.
"Think of brotherly love.
"Think of plenty.
"Think of what a paradise this world would be if men were kind and wise."
one of my favorite quotes in literature probably ever
One of the best things ever written. I've always loved it.
-Oscar Wilde
awww shucks
that said
damn
Breakfast of Champions wasn't for me I guess.
so am i but it's because i have vicks on my chest and it's making my eyes hurt
i can barely see
i should go to bed
tfs i am pretty sure if i gave you a hug the moment i do i would hear the sound of a police siren
not even the full siren
just the "whoop whoop" noise of them turning it on for a sec
they'd be right behind me
hey, if i had gone on to do national history day with him as my subject wouldn't this have made an interesting turn of events
that one was okay, but Bluebeard and Jailbird I've never finished.
I need to try again soon.
Just stating the obvious here.
or are you being punished
Then you mentioned Harrison Bergeron
Fuck I remember reading that in like fifth or sixth grade and having my mind blown
I picked a terrible time to quit my bookstore job!
they'd be like the forum equivalent of tigerhawk
i think it's punishment at this point, or tube just hasn't logged on for awhile or something
they don't seem too stoked about it
we're being punished for sassing Tube on april fools
and then his internet blew up
maybe Ramius can fix me
Timequake's the only one i haven't made it through
Shit he was a great writer.
oh god
someone else knows who he is
he was one of my childhood heroes
i got to meet him a couple times because my dad's buddy did the lighting for his live shows
he was the first celebrity i ever met
it was bizarre, as a child, to meet someone from television
pip as myth?
worldthefair?
I think it was about here I personally decided he was a great man.